GPD teases what could be the most powerful handheld gaming PC in the world — but there are many questions still to answer

The upcoming year, 2025, seems poised for thrilling developments in handheld gaming PCs. Although companies like ASUS, Lenovo, and even Xbox have drawn significant focus, GPD has stealthily been making progress behind the scenes.

Soon, the upcoming handheld device from GPD is about to make its debut. In a brief sneak peek shared on X, GPD unveiled the Win 5, which stands out as the first handheld device to incorporate an AMD Strix Halo APU, specifically the Ryzen AI Max+ 395.

Initially, it appears quite dim. However, kindly colleagues from Tom’s Hardware have prettified it slightly with Photoshop, revealing intuitive controls that align with expectations: offset thumbsticks following nature’s design, a d-pad, and the traditional ABXY buttons.

In certain regions, details are too vague, yet there might be additional buttons, possibly including a miniature touchpad or fingerprint scanner.

As a researcher, I eagerly anticipate the unveiling of the handheld device at Chinajoy in August. This event should provide us with valuable insights into its appearance and thickness, which is crucial given that it houses a Strix Halo APU. To ensure optimal performance, a substantial battery will be necessary.

From the trailer, it’s clear that the game is called Black Myth: Wukong, a title likely chosen with care since it’s one of the most challenging in the gaming world currently.

In simpler terms, all indications from the brief video suggest it’s performing well. For instance, check out the high frame rate! Moreover, even though it’s running at 55W and slightly beyond, the chip stays relatively cool.

Here’s a more conversational way of presenting the information:

“Remember, the ROG Ally’s Z1 Extreme is limited to a maximum configuration of 30W. However, the upcoming Z2 Extreme will support up to 35W. That’s an important difference! Also, based on our personal tests, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has shown impressive performance in games like Forza Horizon 5, Black Ops 6, and Cyberpunk 2077.

We are unsure about the specific settings being employed, and we know very little about the device’s hardware overall. The battery capacity will be crucial since, if you’re drawing 55W, a small battery might drain in just 30 minutes during gaming.

Additionally, no information has been given about the price yet, but I must warn you in advance, expect it to be costly. Some Mini PCs and laptops equipped with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, like the ASUS ROG Flow Z13, are not budget-friendly.

It’s clear that the ROG Flow Z13 is noticeably bigger than the Win 5, however, disregarding the screen size and potentially battery, their hardware specifications may not differ much from what GPD is planning to use.

Right now, the item is available at Best Buy for $2,299.99, featuring 32GB of RAM and a storage capacity of 1TB.

Most small-scale PCs that share the same chip are priced above $1,000 and lack built-in displays.

Regardless, this is a thrilling advancement! It has the potential to become the world’s most potent portable gaming PC once released. However, we’ll require more information to determine if it’s a worthy investment that justifies a substantial amount of money.

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2025-07-25 17:39